Washing and cooling machine for celery and like articles



N. H. GAY

May 22, 1934.

WASHING AND COOLING MACHINE FOR CELERY AND LIKE ARTICLES Filed July 16. 1931 1 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 fnven r: JVbrmazvEGa y,

May 22, 1934. N. H. GAY 1,960,104

WASHING AND COOLING MACHINE FOR CELERY AND LIKE ARTICLES May 22, 1934. N. H. GAY 1,960,104

WASHING AND COOLING MACHINE FOR CE LERY AND LIKE ARTICLES Filed July 1a, 1951 a Sheets-Sheet 5 WASHINGAND COOLING MACHINE FOR CELERY, AND LIKE ARTICLES Filed July 16, 1951 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 lvwerufor: Mrnzanff. 6%,

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8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Irazerzfor JVornuzn/JIT. G3

N. H. GAY

Filed July 16. 1931 May 22, 1934.

WASHING AND COOLING MACHINE} FOR CELERY AND LIKE ARTICLES May 22, 1934. a N. H. GAY I Y 1,960,104

WASHING AND COOLING MACHINE FOR CELERY AND LIKE ARTICLES 7 Filed July 16, 1931 8Sheets-Sheiet 6 N. H. GAY

May 22, 1934.

WASHING AND COOLING MACHINE FOR CELERY AND LIKE ARTICLES Filed July 16, 1931 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 1 Mew;

JVormanEGa May 22, 1934. N. H. GAY v 1,960,104

WASHING AND COOLING MACHINE FOR CELERY AND LIKE ARTICLES 1 Filed July 16, 1931 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Patented May 22, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFiof f WASHING AND COOLING MACHINE FOR CELERY AND LIKE ARTICLES nal sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, these This invention relates to a cooler for celery and like products and is intended to remove the heat from the same so that they may be placed in refrigerated compartments and maintained 5 at a low temperature to prevent deterioration.

One of the features of the present invention is a machine for cooling the celery and likeprod ucts by means of a liquid having a high heat capacity and adapted to cool the same rapidly to a low temperature.

Another feature of the invention is the provi sion of means, in such a machine for producing a continual flow and movement ofthe liquid whereby to cause a cooling of the celery and like products in all parts at a rapid rate.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a machine for cooling celery and like products by dipping the celery or the like into a cooling liquid and thenremoving it therefrom so that drainage occurs, and repeating the operation. Y

A further feature of the invention is the provision of a machine for washing and cooling celery or like products in which the celery or like products are rapidly dipped into a cooling liquid and then raised therefrom for-draining while successively advancing the celery or like products from an intake to an outtake.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of a machinefor washing the celery and like products during the process of cooling, sothat the celery and like products, upon emerging from the machine, have been washed of dirt and brought to the desired low temperature.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of a machine which is automatic and continuous in its operation so that the attendants need only place the celery and like products upon an inlet conveyor system and withdraw the cooled and washed celery or like product from an outlet conveyor.

With these and other objects in view, as will appear in the course of the following specification and claims,' an illustrative form of construction of such a machine is set forth in the accompanying drawings; this machine being par-.-

ticularly designed for the cooling and washing of celery, although obviously it may be employed for the cooling and washing of similar products which require such treatment priorto storage and/or sale. In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the machine, substantially on line 'l-1 of Fig. 2a."

Figs. 2a and 21) represent a vertical longitudiviews constituting a single longitudinalsection.

Figs. 3a and 31) represent. a horizontal sectional view of the celery treating portion of the machine substantially on line .3-3 of Figs. 2a and 2b. i q Fig. l is a plan view ofthefeeding conveyor system, on a larger scale than'thatzof Fig. 30L.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view substantially on line 55 of Fig.4., a

Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the pick-up portion of the washing device, with parts omitted for clearness, and showing the pick-up portion being lowered for releasing a second celery crate. Fig.7 is a iew corresponding to Fig. 6, but

showing the pick-up portion in the position in which it is initially raising the celery crate.

Fig. 8 is a vertical transverse sectional view 7 substantially on line 8--8 of Fig. 6.

As shown in the drawings-,a tank is provided which is filled to a predetermined depth with cold water. A carrier frame is caused to ,move forwardly and upwardly .toreceive a crate of celery, and then rearwardly and downwardly to deposit the crate upon a support. A succession of such movements causes thercrate to be advanced along the tank, and finally discharged therefrom and also causesthe stalks and butts of celery to be repeatedly and continually submerged in the cold water and then raised therefrom for'drainage. Spray devices are provided for delivering cold water onto the celery tops, whereby to wash and assist in cooling them. The water is withdrawn from the tank and cooled by. a suitable refrigeratingv system and then delivered'to the spray nozzles. *The movementof the carrier frame is coordinated with a conveyor system so'that the carrier frame in each cycle of movement picks up a crateafrom the conveyor system and moves it out of the path of other crates on the conveyor system so that there is an automatic feeding of crates from the conveyor system to the carrier frame during the movement of the latter. It is preferred to employ apair of carrier frames, whereby to have an equilibrium or balancing of the partsqwhether loaded or empty. r

. The tanklO is represented as having side and bottom walls and an open top and is, for example, filled with, cold water substantially to the water level shown in Fig. 1, during operation. Standards 11 support the side walls of thetankand may alsobe employed to support the beams, 12 which carry longitudinal members l3 upon which ings.

are mounted the bearings 14 for a plurality of shafts 15 of which four are shown in the draw- These shafts are provided at their ends with the crank arms 16 which are arranged 180 degrees apart so that one crank arm is at the top of its movement when the corresponding arm is at the bottom of its movement. Carrier links 17 are pivoted at the outerends of each crank arm and are rigidly connected with the stirrups 18 which extend downwardly and are provided with connecting angle iron feet 19 within the tank 10. These feet extend substantially from end to end of the tank and" constitute a pair of carrier frames for receiving and advancing thecelery crates. The guard or side plates 20, having flares at top and bottom, are. fastened Within.

the stirrups and above the feet 19 to guide the crates into their proper position upon the feet 19.

It will be noted that the end stirrups 18 are shorter than the central stirrups 18, and that the feet 19are bent upwardly at the end so that the central portion'of the feet are much closer to the bottom of the tank 10 than the end portions. The feet 19 of' eachseries of stirrups are separated along alongitudinal line so thatduring the downward movement of the feet they may pass 'at either side of the supports 21 mounted on the bottom of the tank 10, as shown at the righthand portion of Fig. 1'. These'supports may be made of any desired construction but are shown as being a plurality of wooden members arranged on edge and secured together. 7

Supported above the carrier frames is a shallow basin or pan 33 having extending therefrom a plurality of downcomer pipes 31 which terminate above the positionsof the crates in nozzles 32, from which'cold water-may" be discharged onto the celeryin the crates. The couplings 30 are connected as drain pipes from basin or pan 33 located in the refrigerator housing 34, illustrated as located on the floor above the celery cooling apparatus proper. A refrigerating system of any desired'type' may be provided; but preferably one of the B'audelo't cooler type and is illustrated as comprising an accumulator 35 having the lower inlet header 36 and the ,upper outlet or return header 3?, connected by a plurality of evaporator coils 38 arranged in" respective 'vertical planes beneath'the drip troughs 39which are fed from the water inlet manifold branches 40 leading to the common water'inlet manifold 41, which in turn is connectedto the pump-42 -having a pipe connection fromthe tank 10. Thus, during the operation of 5 the" plant, water is withdrawn from the tank through the pipe 43 to the pump- 42 and then isdelivered through the manifold 4I'into its several'bra'nches 40 and thenceintothe troughs 39, so that the water trickles over the evaporator'coils 38 and is re-cooled thereby. This water is finally collected by the pan33 and is delivered through coupling 30 and pipe 31 into the nozzles 32 and thusserves to wash and cool the celery, and to maintain the water level in'the tank 10. 'Water lost by evaporation, splashing, and by remaining in'the celery etc; is compensated by the flow of water through the makeup pipe 41w and the regulating valve 41b. i

In Fig. 2a, a chamber is indicated at the lefthand T end of the tank '10, into which the water passesjfor treatment by a filter conventionally illustrated "as a screen 101) for separating leaves, trash," dirt,etc., before the water is received by the pipe 4.3. t 57 Ti The crank arms 16 are of the same diameten'sdl that during their'revolution, the carrier frames are moved so that each point therein describes a circular arc, with a portion of the arc beneath the top surface of the support 21 and preferably a larger portion of the are above this surface. The several shafts 15 are driven coordinately in any appropriate manner. In the drawings, each of the shafts carries a large gear 50 which is in mesh with a driving pinion 51 carried by a jack shaft 52' mounted on bearings 53 supported by the longitudinal beams 13. One of the jack shafts is also provided with a gear train 54 driven from a shaft 5'5which in turn is rotated by an electric motor 56 or other. desired source of power. This jack shaft'a-lso-isprovided with three sprockets 5'7 which are connected by chains 58 with corresponding sprockets 59 located on the other three jack shafts. In this way, all of the shafts 15 are drivenin synchronism.

.The sides of the tank 10, opposite the nozzles 32 are preferably carried higher than the receiving and discharge ends of the tank, in order to prev'ent'losses of water by splashing. The supports 21 conform to the inclined upper surface of the carrier'fram'es 19, and hence extend upwardly at the ends. At the feeding or inlet end of the tank are provided aplurality of frames 60 which support the screwthr'eaded rods 61 having pivots at their ends, for adjustably holding the frames 62 of a pair of conveyors which lead respectively to the right hand and left hand carrier frame systems in Figs, 1' and 4. The conveyor leading to the lefthand system in these figures is of course shorter than that leading to the righthand system. Each of these conveyor systems comprises a relatively fixed frame in two portions which are spaced apart. One portion, the lefthand portion L in Fig. 4, is a storage section in which a number of crates of celery may be placed for automatic gravitational 'feed'downward and toward the right (Fig. 5) Therighthand portions R are short and are likewise relatively fixed in position, and are each located between the planes constituting the paths of movement of the feet or carrier frames 19. Between these two sections L, R is located a third conveyor section C. The axis shaft 63 of oneof the rolls'inthis section is provided with extensions to support the tiltable frame 64 which is provided at its upper end with a stop roller 65, and at'its lowerend with a stop rail 66, extending above the rollers C and having a projection toward the center of the tank for supporting a trip roller 67 which is encountered by the trip cam 68 secured to one T-shaped extension 190. of the carrier frames 19 during the downward movement of the carrier frame, whereby to tilt the frame 64 into thereon and abut against one another for this storage portion of the conveyor. The crates are preferably arranged end to end on this storage portion, since this affords a maximum capacity in the cooling and washing portion of the machine.

Depending on the position of the two carrier frames 19, and the positions of thetrip rollers 65, and the stop rails 66,the lowermost crate on at least one of the conveyors will pass from the lefthand section L onto the center section C where it is stopped by the rail 66. As the motor 56 revolves, the cranks 16 are rotated in a clockwise direction (Figs. 2a and 2b), so that the proper carrier frame 19 is moved toward the left (Fig. 2a) and its extension 19a is brought beneath the crate resting on the conveyor section R and against the stop 70. The continued movement of the cranks 16 causes the carrier frame 19 and its extension 19a to be raised so that the crate is lifted from the conveyor section R, (Fig. 7). The continued movement of the carrier frame 19 causes its extension to make a movement upward and toward the center of the tank, until the cranks 16 have attained a horizontal position. It is preferred that the upper surfaces of the supports 21 shall be so located that upon a movement of the carrier frame 19, corresponding to a position of the cranks 16 slightly below horizontal during the downward movement, shall cause a depositing of the crates upon the carrier upon the support'21. The carrier frame 19 now continues its downward and leftward movement in Fig. 2a.

During the downward movement of the portion 19a of the carrier frame, the cam 68 has engaged the roller 6? and pushed it downward so that the trip roller 65-is moved against the action of gravity and now operates to raise the upper or lefthand end of the crate (Figs. 5 and 8) which has been retained by the'engagement of its lower end against the stop rail 66. At this time, the carrier rail portion 19a has moved out of the path of this crate (Fig. 6). Thestop rail 66 is lowered beneath the top line of the rollers C, so that the crate now resting upon the trip roller 65 and the lowermost or righthand intermediate rollers 0 slides toward the right in Fig. 8, until it drops from the trip roller 65 down onto all of the rollers C again. This crate then continues its movement down onto the rollers R until it is stopped by the bumper 70. Meanwhile the next succeeding crate on the storage section has been retained by the trip roller 65, against any substantial movement downward along the roller conveyor. j I

A moment later the cam 68 disengages the roller 6'7 and permits the frame 64 with the' trip roller 65 and the stop rail 66 to return to their initial positions. The next succeeding crate, which has previously been retained by the trip ro11er'65 is now free to roll downward onto the central roller 7 section C until'it strikes the stop 'rail 66. This operationcontinues, being produced once foreach rotation of the shafts 15, and hence for each cycle of movement of the carrier'frame. The two roller conveyors operate in the same mannerQbut are timed substantially 180 degrees apart in the phase by reason of the relative positions of the crank arms 16 on the shafts 15. As the carrier'frames 19 and its portion 19c continues in its downward movement after having released the roller 67, the frame ultimately passes beneath the top surface of the supports 21 so that the crates which may be. resting on the carrier frame are received and supported by these supports 21. The carrier framein its cycle of movement now moves downwardly and rearwardly, i. e., toward the left in Figs. 2a and 21),

until its portion 19a is again located beneath the roller'section R, and then in its "cycle of move-- ment moves upward at'either side of this roller section R (Fig. 7) to receive the crate which has been resting upon this roller section, and then to bring it forward by onestep and during this movement to trip the frame 64as has been described above. Y

The continued movement. of the frame thus results in a step by step advancing of the crates along the support 21. During this movement the crates are'immersed' so that the celery butts aresubmerged in the water while the crates are resting on thehorizontal portion of the support 21, but" are substantially raised out of the water when at the top .of the movement of the carrier frame 19. Hence the crates are alternately subjected to submerging and to a suspension for free drainage. Further, they are subjected to sprays of cold water from above which assist in washing the tops or other portions which are not at the moment immersed in the water in the tank. By this alternate submerging and drainage, a quick reduction-of temperature is effected as soon as there is substantially no stagnation of the water or other cooling liquid within the crates.

It is preferred that the distance by which the crates are movedfor each cycle of movement of the carrier frames 19 shall be slightly in excess of the crates as seen in Figs. 2a and 2b so that the crates on the inclined portions of the carrier frames 19, and the corresponding portions of the supports 21, shall not be in contact with the crates on the horizontal portions of these members. After having progressed in succession through the tank, the crates are brought onto the discharge conveyor sections 100, which are located betweenthe feet on the carrier frames 19 and are joined togetherby a central portion 101 and are continued as a delivery conveyor 102 leading to any desired point of storage or further treatment for the crates.

It will be noted that the celery or other product is admitted into the tank at the lefthand end in Figs. 2a. and 2b, progressing regularly through the tank to be discharged at the righthand end. Further, the water is being continually withdrawnfrom the tank at the lefthand end for recooling and delivery throughout the length of the tank. This means that the coldest water is at the dischargeend (righthand Fig. 221), while the warmest and dirtiest water-is at the feeding end (lefthand, Fig. 2a 7 It is obvious-that the invention provides a washing and cooling machine which may be employed the liquid level in said tank upon which articles may be deposited while immersed in the liquid, a

7 carrier member located adjacent said support and alternately immersible in the liquid and raised therefrom for picking up and draining the articles, and means to move said carrier member in a circuitous'path whereby the carrier member is moved in'succession forwardly with the articles thereon above the support,downwardly, for depositing the articles uponsaid support and thereby inimersing them-in the liquid,. rearwardly below the support, and then upwardly to pick up the articles again at a different point on said carrier so that the said'articles are successively advanced along said support and'simultaneously to raise the articles above the liquid whereby to permit them to drain.

2. In a machine of the class described, a tank for containing liquid; a support member having a central portion located in thetank below the liquid level and end portions inclined upwardly from said central member, a carrier member including article engaging elements comprising central portions extending in parallelism to the central portion of the supportememberand end portions extending in parallelism with the adjacent end portions of the support member, and means to move said carrier member in a circular path to positions alternately above and below said support member, and relatively forward lyand rearwardly with relation thereto. a

3. In a machine of the class'described, a tank for containing liquid, a support member located in said tank belowthe-liquid level, shafts, cranks onsaid shafts, links on said shafts having bifur- I cated ends extending into said tank, and car rier elements on said bifurcated ends for picking up articles from said support, and means to rotate said shafts whereby to produce a movement of said carrierelements in a circuitous path. 4. In a machine of the class described, a'tank for containing liquid, a support member extending along the tank below the liquid level thereinv upon which articles may be deposited, a carrier member comprising spaced elementsof substantially the same length and; shape as said support member and extending'in substantial parallelism to said support member andat the sides thereof, means. for delivering articles in succes- 'sion at one end of said carrier member and in alignment and opposite the end of said support member, and means for moving said carrier member in a circular path so that said elements may lift an article located on said delivery means and carry it forward and then lower it upon said support member, and return for engaging another article on said delivery means, said carrier member also being operated by said moving means to lift the articles located in the liquid and on said support member to a point above the liquid whereby the article may drain and to carry the article forward and deposit it upon a new and advanced position, on said support member, so that an article is successively moved from said delivery means along said support member and is alternately immersed in the liquid in the tank and raised therefrom.

5..In a machine. of the classfldescribed, a tank for containing liquid, a support member extending along the tank below the liquidleyel therein upon which articles may be deposited, a carrier member comprising spaced elements having Sub-f stantially the same length as said support'member and extending .in substantialparallelism to said support member at the sides thereof, means for delivering articles in succession at a point in alignment with and at one end of said support member, a stop device for, preventing the passage of the article on said delivery means to said point, means for moving said carrier member, in a circular path so that said elements may in succession lift the article from said pointto a position above the liquid for draining and carry it forward and depositit upon said support member so that the article is immersed in liquid, and return after depositing the-article for engaging a new article in said position, and means operated by said carrier movement while depositing one article upon said support member for releasing said stop device so that a new article may move to said position to be engaged by said ,carrier member during this succeeding forward movement.

6. In a machine of the class described, a tank for containing liquid, a support member extending along the tank below the liquid level therein and upon which articles may be deposited in the liquid, a carrier member extending parallel, to

- moved forward alongsaid support by steps.

and "having substantially the same length as said support member and including article engaging means for lifting the articles from said support member, a plurality of horizontal shafts each extending at right angles to said support member and means to rotate the same at uniform angular speed, and cranks of the same radius on said shafts and connected to said carrier member for moving the same in afixed circular path while being maintained parallel to said support member,,whereby the articles are liftedout of the liquid and advanced along said carrier member, and then are deposited upon the carrier member in advanced position while the carrier member is returned to position for again lifting and advancing the articles,

v 7. In a machine of the class described, a tank for containing liquid, a longitudinally located support member extending below theliquid level insaid tank upon which articles maybe deposited while immersed in the liquid, a carrier member for picking up the articles and having substantiallythe same length and shape of said support member in a vertical longitudinal plane, a plurality of shafts, cranks on said shafts, means for suspending the carrier members from said cranks, and means to rotate said shafts whereby to move said carrier member in succession forwardly with the articles thereon above the support, downwardly for depositing the articles upon said support and thereby immersing them in theliquid, rearwardly below the support, and then upwardly to pick up the articles again at a different point on said carrier so that the said articles are successively advanced along said support and simultaneously to raise the articles above the liquid whereby to permitthem to drain.

8. In a machine of the class described, a tank for containing liquid, a support member upon which articles may be deposited and having inclinedlends extending above the liquid level and a central portion located so that articles positioned thereon are immersed in the liquid, a.;carrier member, located, adjacent said support for picking up the. articles and having ends and acentral portion conforming to said support members, and means to raise said carrier member and to move it forward with the articles thereon whereby to .raise and drain the articles and advance themalongsaid support member, and to lower the carrier member for depositing the articles in advanced positions on-said support member and to return the carrier member for a further raising and forwarding operation.

.9. In a machine of the class described, a tank 130 for containing washing liquid, a support member upon-which the articles may be deposited and having inclined ends extending above the liquid level and a central portion located so that articles positioned thereon are immersed in the liquid, a carrier member located adjacent said support for picking up the articles, means to'move said carrier member in a circular path whereby to raise the articles from the support to a point above the surface of the liquid and move them simultaneously forward, then to. lower the articles into the liquid and deposit 1 them on said support, and thereafter to return forengaging said articles at a new position thereof whereby the articles are 10. In a machine of the class described, a tank for containing liquid, a support member having upwardly inclined ends extending above the liquid level and a central portion extending along the tank below the liquid level therein, a carrier member comprising spaced elements of substantially the same length and shape and extending in substantial parallelism to said support member and located at the sides thereof, and fixedly connected means to move said carrier member in a circular path so that said elements may in succession lift the articles from the support member when said carrier member is raised and deposit the articles upon said support member when the carrier is lowered, and travel forward for advancing the articles when lifted from said support member and return when the articles are deposited on said support member.

11. In a machine of the class described, a tank for containing liquid, a plurality of parallel supports beneath the liquid level in said tank, pairs of carrier members each pair cooperating with and positioned at the sides of one of said supports and being of substantially the same length as the corresponding supports, a plurality of shafts, cranks on said shafts extending in opposite directions from the am's of the respective shaft, and pivot connections between one of said carrier members and the cranks extending in one direction, and between the other carrier member and the cranks extending in the other direction, so that weights of the carrier members and articles thereon will counterbalance, and means to rotate said shafts to produce alternately an immersion and deposit of the articles upon said support and a lifting of the articles above the liquid for drain ing accompanied by a forward advancement thereof. 7

12. In a machine of the class described, a tank for containing liquid, a plurality of parallel supports beneath the liquid level in said tank, pairs of carrier members, each pair cooperating with and positioned at the sides of one of said, supports and being of substantially the same length as the corresponding supports, a plurality of shafts, cranks on said shafts extending in opposite directions from the axis of the respective shaft, and

pivot connections between one of said carrier members and the cranks extending in one direction, and between the other carrier member and the cranks extending in the other direction, so that the weights of the carrier members and articles thereon will counterbalance and operating 7 for moving said carrier members in a fixed circular path, and means to rotate said shafts to produce alternately an immersion and deposit of the articles upon said support and a lifting of the articles above the liquid for draining accompanied by a forward advancement thereof.

NORMAN H. GAY. 

